Hi everyone,
I went out birding near Denver on Monday afternoon 2/15/2010 and Tuesday
afternoon 2/16/2010.
1) I saw the Barrow's Goldeneye in south central Denver as reported -- just
north of Florida Avenue and South Platte River Drive. There is a small paved
parking area on Florida Avenue (north side) just east of the South Platte River
-- at Overland Lake Park -- it offers the best (and safest) access to areas
just north of the Florida Avenue bridge -- to see the Barrow's pair. You can
walk the trail on the east side of South Platte River from this access point.
As I am a novice, it was rather exciting to find the pair (I had tried twice
before without success -- I am learning the "zen of birding"). On this
particular day, they seemed to be hanging out with American Coots -- but that
may be random. There are scores of Northern Shovelers in the same area.
2) One of my favorite birding and walking locations is along the South Platte
River between 88th and McKay Road in Thornton. There is a great access point
at Trailhead Park -- near 88th and Colorado Boulevard. I think the best
birding is from this parking area northward (on foot). However, the Thornton
fishing lake opens March 15 -- you can only see it through a chain link fence
currently -- and it is south of the parking area. Anyway, northward along that
2.2 mile stretch of river, I routinely see 100's of Northern Shovelers and
Canada Geese (Cackling's amongst them). There are lovely groups of Northern
Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye,
Ring-billed Gull, Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Great Blue Heron, Black-billed
Magpie, Song Sparrow, Belted Kingfisher (love this bird), Red-winged Blackbirds
and American Robin.
With respect to raptors, there are American Kestrels (counted 7 on 2/15/2010),
a mature Bald Eagle pair and one juvenile Bald Eagle (first year), Northern
Harrier along with Red-tailed Hawks. In the past 6 weeks, I have seen at least
one Bald Eagle on every walk along the river. The Balds tend to roost on the
east-side of the river in large cottonwoods (the paved trail is on the west
side of the river -- watch out for bicyclists) about 1/2 to 1 mile north of the
parking area. I also watched Northern Flicker and Downy Woodpecker in the
thickets.
My latest discovery there was a small group of Lesser Scaup on the river --
which was exciting for me to see as a novice. A few weeks ago, I saw my first
American Pipit and Song Sparrow along this same stretch of the river.
3) A new area that I am appreciating more and more is the Rocky Mountain
Arsenal NWR. 1/2 mile east of 56th Avenue and Valentia, I saw a wonderful
Ferruginous Hawk. It's my first positive sighting (many maybe's in the past --
but my first confirmed by photo image). Within the NWR, I went to the feeders
as described at the northwest side of the Visitor's Center. I did not see
anything exotic -- but I enjoy seeing and listening to the score of House Finch
and Dark-eyed Junco. The NWR is not open every day (usually Tue,Wed,Sat,Sun)
so check their website before meandering there -- and get a map before walking.
Lake Mary had a large flock of Red-winged Blackbirds -- and even though it was
cool and windy, it sure sounded like spring! Lower Derby Lake has some open
water -- and has a nice group of Common Merganser's amongst the other common
waterfowl already mentioned. Of course, the Red-tailed Hawks and American
Kestrels kept me company. This was the first time in sometime that I did not
see a Golden Eagle there -- more "zen of birding" -- LOL! And amidst it all,
I saw two groups of deer (about 20 in each group), a coyote, and many squirrels
-- and the buffalo herd was visible from Quebec Street.
Ben
PS. For those that have a hand tremor -- like I do -- I want to recommend the
Canon IS (image-stablizing) binoculars. I've always found binoculars useless
for this reason -- but the IS really helps. Certainly, there are binoculars
with better glass and optics -- but if you shake, give these "electric
binoculars" a thought (Nikon also makes excellent IS binoculars -- which they
call VR for vibration reduction/resistance). More zen....later!
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